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Monday, March 14, 2011

Before Ever After: Book Cover Reveal and Virtual Tour

When I was pregnant with each of my kids, I used to imagine what they would look like. Would they have my eyes or their dad’s? Would they get their father’s nose? I would stare at their ultrasound images and try to make out their faces. For nine months, I waited.

And wondered.

I felt the same way when I wrote Before Ever After. I’ve lost count of all the “pretend” covers I made for the book. My computer skills are limited at best (uploading photos into Facebook remains a challenge), but that didn’t stop me from copying, pasting, and cropping pictures to give the story a face.

Each mock-up explored different elements from the novel - a sundial, a mosaic, a Volkswagen van – but they had one thing in common: they were HORRIBLE. Don’t believe me? Ask my hubby whomastered the art of mustering the most polite and encouraging smile whenever I'd show them to him and ask, “So, what do you think?” (He quickly learned that the correct answer was the same as the response to the question, “Does this make me look fat?”)

I have since accepted the fact that, just like cooking, designing book covers is definitely NOT one of my talents. (And yes, I will now admit that my white blouse with horizontal red stripes does make my waist look five inches thicker.) Apart from looking like a six-year old’s craft project, there was something missing. The designs failed to capture the essence of the book, the concept of a story being told within a story.

Still, back then, my latest “masterpiece” was there when I needed an image, however crude, to hold in my head whenever I felt like giving up - an image that would make me smile, as I waited.

And wondered.

At long last, I can stop wondering. Before Ever After finally has a real face smiling back at me. In a moment, it will smile back at you too. You will also get to see the premiere of the “virtual tour” we made of “The Slight Detour,” the offbeat European tour Max, my main character, runs in the book. The virtual tour uses quotations from the book as well as images from two extremely talented photographer friends of mine: Cecilia Beltran and Bopet Gillego. (Thanks, guys!! You ROCK.)

For those of you who have not yet read the synopsis of the book, I’m posting it here so that you can have some background on the novel before you watch the tour. If you’ve already read it, please skip ahead, hop on the van and enjoy the tour!

Meet Before Ever After…

Three years after her husband Max's death, Shelley feels no more adjusted to being a widow than she did that first terrible day. That is, until the doorbell rings. Standing on her front step is a young man who looks so much like Max–same smile, same eyes, same age, same adorable bump in his nose–he could be Max's long-lost relation. He introduces himself as Paolo, an Italian editor of American coffee table books, and shows Shelley some childhood photos. Paolo tells her that the man in the photos, the bearded man who Paolo says is his grandfather though he never seems to age, is Max. Her Max. And he is alive and well.

As outrageous as Paolo's claims seem–how could her husband be alive? And if he is, why hasn't he looked her up? – Shelley desperately wants to know the truth. She and Paolo jet across the globe to track Max down–if it is really Max– and along the way, Shelley recounts “The Slight Detour,” the European package tour where they had met. As she relives Max's stories of bloody Parisian barricades, medieval Austrian kitchens, and buried Roman boathouses, Shelley begins to piece together the story of who her husband was and what these new revelations mean for her "happily ever after." And as she and Paolo get closer to the truth, Shelley discovers that not all stories end where they are supposed to.

It looks like a well-loved book that's been on our shelves for years! I love it. And those photos of your friends are haunting. Just the snippets from your book are enough to make us want the story to end well for Max and Shelley.

Thanks!!!! I could never have dreamed up the cover myself. I can honestly say this design never even crossed my mind, but when I saw it, I was awed by how the designer "got" the book. As for the pictures - how I came to meet the brilliant photographers behind them is quite amazing as well - another awesome surprise at a corner of this twisty path. :D

Hi Sam ~Beautiful book, appropriate cover, amazing writing and absolutely love your vid promo!! Thank you for posting it! I may want to do a promo for you at my site if you wouldn't mind...and use the vid...what d'ya think?

I love the sound of this book however I have the misfortune of looking at this at work so they've blocked whatever special thing you wanted to show! That being said you've been bookmarked so I can look at home!

The bits and pieces from the book is a teaser to everyone, but me (Look, modesty flew out of the window! :D). For me, it was a reminder of how wonderful a journey it was. Damn it. I'm crying all over again...

Hey, Elaine!!! So happy to see you here! *hugs* I'll now admit that I was SUPER NERVOUS about you seeing the tour since you've already read the book. I am SOOOOOOOOO relieved that you like it!!! I'm going to go to bed now with a HUGE smile on my face. Thank you, thank you, thank you, my dear! :D

I Love it! I can not wait to read it. I have been bragging to all my non blog friends that we are blog friends. They are so jealous of me. I am so excited for you and can not wait to add your lovely book to my library.Have a wonderfully exciting day!

Christina - Yay!!! Thank you! I'm really happy you like it! Now you know why the music you posted on your blog gave me goosebumps. I think that song has a similar tone and feel as the one in the video :DDeborah - Knowing your excellent taste in art, I'm thrilled you like the cover!!! Thank you! :DVinobaby - Thank you so much!!!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it :DHot girl - Thank you! (and thanks for stopping by!) :DSerendipity - *blushes* Awww...thank you so much! It would be beyond awesome for Before Ever After to find a home in your library. :DAndrew - Thank you and welcome to the blog! *Offers a cupcake* Hope to see you around often! :D

Whispering Writer - Thank you so much! :DChristina - Thank you, my friend. :D Kara - Aww...thanks! I'm so glad our blogging paths crossed :DDanielle - Thank you! There was no way that I was going to leave out our fave city from the tour. :D

Loved the YouTube Vitrual tour - the snippets of your book, the music, the photograhpy all go together beautifully. My husband has a similar reaction when I become frustrated with whatever it is I'm trying to do at the moment! (smile) Much success with your book!

Cupid and I were at Fully Booked last weekend, and we said that we would soon see Before Ever After right smack in the middle of the Best Seller wall/ section...we are THAT excited, and happy for you...not to mention, PROUD! Oh, you cannot imagine how much!

Oops...before I forget...and I know that this is nothing compared to everything that you have accomplished...but I want to let you know that I have (also) awarded you with the ONE LOVELY BLOG AWARD! Yay!

It's just my little way of showing and letting you know, that I appreciate you, your blog, your support, and your friendship.

More power to you!!!!

p.s. I sent a comment earlier. But Blogger said that something went wrong and that my comment could not be sent. Weird huh?! So, I decided to just compose another one. Just couldn't pass up the chance to congratulate you! :)